NCDMB, NLNG in S’Korea to Inspect Fabrication of Train-7 Facilities

Peter Uzoho

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG) are currently carrying out an onsite out-of-country monitoring visit to South Korea to inspect  facilities in the ongoing Train 7 project.

They include fabricating Pressure Vessels, Columns, Heat Exchangers, and Filters for the Train 7 project awarded to the consortium of SAIPEM, Chiyoda and DAEWOO (SCD JV).

The visit, according to a post by the NCDMB on X, was from the 18 – 22of March 2024.

The local content agency also disclosed that the monitoring visit was being led by the duo of the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Mr. Felix Ogbe and the Director of Monitoring and Evaluation Mr. Abdulmalik Halilu.

 The NLNG team was led by the Managing Director, Dr. Philip Mshelbila and the General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development, Mr. Andy Odeh.

NCDMB explained that the NLNG Train 7 project is important to the federal government as it seeks to increase NLNG’s production capacity by 35 per cent from 22 Million Tons Per Annum (MTPA) to 30 MTPA, thereby enhancing Nigeria’s position as a leading LNG exporter.

It said the visit would assess capabilities in out-of-country yards, plan for in-country capacity development, in readiness for future LNG train projects.

It will also obtain relevant data on project status for fabrication of Pressure Vessels, Heat Exchangers, Columns and Filters and ensure strict compliance of the project with commitments contained in the Nigerian Content Compliance Certificate signed by both parties.

In the project update meeting, the executive secretary of NCDMB thanked the contractors for their resilience and the impressive quality of the job done so far.

He admonished them to build more capacities in Nigeria so that future projects of this nature can leverage capacities built in Nigeria.

 He also emphasized the continuous collaboration with NLNG to ensure the project’s success while also maximising its positive impact on Nigeria’s economy and global LNG industry.

At a recent review engagement between senior officials of the NCDMB and NLNG in November 2023, the board had revealed that the ongoing construction of the Train-7 project at the firm’s base at Finima, Bonny Island, Rivers State had reached 52 per cent and engages 8,300 Nigerians of diverse skill sets.

According to the Nigerian Content Plan (NCP) signed in March 2019, the Train-7 scope will deliver 100 percent in-country fabrication of the condensate stabilization unit, pipe-racks, flare system, and non-cryogenic vessels. Site civil works on roads, piling, jetties and will also keep local businesses occupied.

NCDMB officials had confirmed that the project will also provide great opportunities for the utilisation of local goods and services in addition to enhancing and developing new capacities and capabilities for the local supply chain.

The board had said there will also be 100 percent local procurement of all LV cables and HV cables, all non-cryogenic valves, protective coatings, and all sacrifice anodes. 70 percent of all non-cryogenic pumps and control valves will be assembled in-country.

It maintained that other spin-off opportunities would include logistics, equipment leasing, insurance, hotels, office supplies, aviation and haulage.